|Numéro de publication||US5320326 A|
|Type de publication||Octroi|
|Numéro de demande||US 08/074,491|
|Date de publication||14 juin 1994|
|Date de dépôt||11 juin 1993|
|Date de priorité||11 juin 1993|
|État de paiement des frais||Caduc|
|Numéro de publication||074491, 08074491, US 5320326 A, US 5320326A, US-A-5320326, US5320326 A, US5320326A|
|Inventeurs||Ted Ju, Yih-Ching Her|
|Cessionnaire d'origine||Ted Ju, Her Yih Ching|
|Exporter la citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Citations de brevets (6), Référencé par (37), Classifications (11), Événements juridiques (2)|
|Liens externes: USPTO, Cession USPTO, Espacenet|
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to an improved structure of a pipe fitting, and particularly to the structure of a quick-connect pipe fitting for connecting piping or hydraulic tubing.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
A conventional quick-connect pipe fitting is shown in FIG. 6. Such fitting mainly includes a quick-connect fitting body 10, a seal washer 20, a lock washer 30, a base 40 and a pressurized washer 50. The fitting is used for connecting a plastic pipe 60 in a pressurized or hydraulic system. The lock washer and the seal washer lock and seal the pipe connection in an air-tight system. To disconnect this conventional pipe fitting, the pressurized washer 50 has to be pushed down to touch the lock washer and open up the inner teeth of the lock washer. Since the diameter of the ring-shaped pressurized washer 50 is very small, and the lock washer has a very high locking strength, it is not easy to push down the pressurized washer. The pressing is uncomfortable for the fingers. In addition, a majority of the pressurized washers today are made out of plastic materials, and they tend to lock dead after a period of time due to the teeth marks on the inner wall of the pipe. Pushing the pressurized washer down with too much force can crack or break the plastic washer making it necessary to shutdown the pressurized system to replace the pipe fitting.
In addition, the above conventional quick-connect pipe fitting is directly connected to a vent tube through the threads at the end of the fitting body. Therefore, air flow can always pass through the pipe fitting to the vent tube. The conventional pipe fitting does not provide a mechanism to close the air flow. After the conventional quick-connect pipe fitting is connected to a pressure pipe, the valve has to be opened for servicing. This is inconvenient. Moreover, when a main pipe is branched out to several service locations, all the quick-connect pipe fittings have to be connected on both sides before the main valve can be opened for servicing. The addition of an individual shutoff valve to each line with a quick-connect pipe fitting is costly and creates more work in operation.
The main object according to the present invention is to provide a new structure of a quick-connect pipe fitting for connecting pressure pipes. The new structure has a compression member installed on top of a lock washer. When the compression member is pushed downward, it opens up the lock washer. Therefore, the disconnecting of the pressure pipe is easy. Moreover, the compression member is appropriately screwed to a base of the fitting, ensuring a solid connection of the fitting to the pressure pipes.
Another object according to the present invention is to provide a structure of a quick-connect pipe fitting with an internal air valve, which comprises a seal ring, a vent valve, a connecting base, and a spring. Normally the internal air valve is in a closed position with the spring pushing the vent valve against the seal washer. When a pressure pipe is connected to the pipe fitting, it pushes the vent valve to an open position. Thus air flow can pass through the vent valve and the connecting base. The operation involved with the pipe fitting of the present invention is easier and the errors are minimized. Moreover, the new structure of the pipe fitting is simple and its function is precise.
A further object according to the present invention is to provide the structure of a quick-connect pipe fitting, a plurality of which can be connected in parallel to a main line. Each quick-connect pipe fitting is normally closed to block the air flow but opens up when it is connected to a pressure pipe. Therefore, individual shutoff valves may be eliminated and the operation is simplified.
The drawings disclose an illustrative embodiment of the present invention which serves to exemplify the various advantages and objects thereof, and are as follows:
FIG. 1 is a perspective fragmented view of a quick-connect pipe fitting according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the quick-connect pipe fitting according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the pipe fitting connected to two pipe sections according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pipe fitting assembly according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of two pipe fitting assemblies branched from a main pressure line according to the present invention; and
FIG. 6 is a section view of a conventional quick-connect pipe fitting assembly according to the prior art.
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, a quick-connect pipe fitting 1 according to the present invention mainly comprises a quick-connect fitting body 11, a seal washer 12, a lock washer 13, a base 14 and a compression member 15.
The fitting body 11, having a stepped central hole 111, is similar to a conventional device in structure.
The seal washer 12 is assembled underneath a small diameter portion of the stepped central hole 111 inside the fitting body 11. The seal washer 12 is also a conventional seal washer.
The lock washer 13, having an appropriate number of inner teeth 131, is also a conventional part.
The base 14, which fits inside of the stepped central hole 111, is a cylindrical body with a teeth ring 141 on its top and inner threads 142 on its bottom. The lock washer 13 fits snug at the end of the base 14.
The compression member 15, having a cylindrical body, forms a teeth shaped ring 151 at its top. The bottom of the compression member 15 has appropriate outer threads 152 to allow it to screw into the inner threads 142 of the base 14.
By assembling the above components, as is shown in FIG. 1, the base 14 is placed inside of the fitting body 11. The teeth ring 141 is snug against the inner wall of the stepped central hole 111. An inner wall 112 in the front portion of the fitting body 11 can be bent inward to prevent the base 14 from falling out. At the same time, the outer threads 152 of the compression member 15 is secured on the base 14, allowing the compression member 15 to screw in and out of the base 14 freely. The curved wall 112 and the surface of the threads will prevent the base 14 from disengaging from the main body 11. This assembly allows a pressure pipe 8 to extend through the compression member 15, the lock washer 13, and the seal washer 12. When the pressure pipe 8 needs to be disconnected, the compression member 15 is pushed downward (inward). This pushes against the lock washer 13 and opens up the inner teeth 131. The pressure pipe 8 is no longer locked and may be pulled out easily.
An air valve according to the present invention is installed internally inside the fitting body 11, and a connecting member 2 is screwed onto the fitting body. A seal ring 4 and a vent valve 5 are installed inside the stepped central hole 111 of the fitting body 11. A connecting base 6 and a spring 7 are installed inside the connecting member 2.
The connecting member 2 is a hollow cylindrical body having two different internal screw threads 21 and 22. Such threads 21 and 22 are opposite in thread direction and are respectively screwed onto quick-connect fitting bodies with oil seals disposed therebetween.
The seal ring 4 is installed inside the stepped central hole 111 on the lower portion of the quick-connect fitting body 11.
The vent valve 5 is a hollow cylindrical body having a base at its end. The hollow cylindrical body has a plurality of vent holes 51. The hollow cylindrical body of the vent valve 5 is able to fit into the seal ring 4.
The connecting base 6 is a hollow tubing having an extension plate 61 at its center. Circular openings 62 are provided at both ends of the hollow tubing and have irregular shapes.
The spring 7 is installed inside the connecting base 6. The ends of the spring 7 are pressed against the vent valves 5, respectively. Normally, the spring 7 pushes the vent valve 5 into the seal ring 4, as shown in FIG. 2. The spring 7 is compressed when the pressure pipe 8 is inserted into the quick-connect fitting body 11, as shown in FIG. 3.
By using the above components, the connecting member 2 with the oil seal 23 is used to connect two quick-connect fitting bodies 11 together. When no pressure pipe 8 is inserted (see FIG. 2), the spring 7, held by the connecting base 6, is pressed against the two vent valves 5, such that the seal ring 4 seals off the vent holes 51. When the pressure pipe 8 is connected to the fitting body 11, it pushes the vent valve 5 against the bias of spring 7 and into contact with the connecting base 6, such that the vent holes 51 are exposed outwardly of the seal ring 4. Therefore, air flow comes through one end of the fitting body 11 and flows to the other fitting body 11. In order to assure that the air flow is uniform and unobstructed, the irregular-shaped circular openings 62 of the connecting base 6 form appropriate gaps to allow the air to go through. The same principle can also be applied by forming holes in the wall of the connecting base 6. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above description.
Referring to FIG. 5, a sectional view of two pipe fitting assemblies branched from a main pressure line is shown. The main pressure line 3 is formed with screw holes 31, each of which has a stepped portion 32 at its inner end. The connecting base 6 is then inserted into each of the screw holes 31 with the extension plate 61 resting on the stepped portion 32. The fitting body 11 with the oil seal 23 is screwed into the screw hole 31. One end of the spring 7 pushes the vent valve 5 into the seal ring 4, and the other end of the spring 7 is appropriately located to press against the inner wall of the main pressure line 3. When the pressure pipe 8 is inserted and connected, it pushes the vent valve toward the connecting base, such that the fitting body 11 allows air to flow therethrough.
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|Classification aux États-Unis||251/149.6, 251/149.1|
|Classification internationale||F16L37/42, F16L37/35, F16L37/091|
|Classification coopérative||F16L37/42, F16L37/35, F16L37/0915|
|Classification européenne||F16L37/42, F16L37/091, F16L37/35|
|14 juin 1998||LAPS||Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees|
|22 sept. 1998||FP||Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee|
Effective date: 19980614